2005 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport Wagon 4-door 2.5l on 2040-cars

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Subaru gives Aussies BRZ Sports Pack

Well, it might not be exactly the Subaru BRZ STI that we've all been waiting for, but Australian market shoppers are now going to have the option of adding some STI flavor to their coupe, with this new BRZ S.
Critically, the Sports Pack upgrades included in the S specification do not involve forced induction of any kind for the BRZ's 2.0-liter flat-four mill. Instead, the BRZ S will offer a novel flexible strut tower brace and a coilover suspension to aid its already impressive handling prowess. Visually, the car gets a new aero kit with lowered skirts and a new front and rear splitter, as well as some mean-looking, 17-inch black wheels. Inside, a new gearlever and a STI-branded starter button will call out the S model.
The S package can be ordered on a new BRZ and fitted at the dealer, or added to an existing customer car. When ordered new, the BRZ S adds $7,995 Australian - about $7,275 US including installation - to the price of the six-speed manual car, or $7,195 Australian ($6,547 US) for the six-speed automatic transmission model. That's a pretty fat wedge of cash, but it's worth bearing in mind that Australians generally pay significantly more for new cars than we do here in the States. For instance, the BRZ starts at $37,150 Australian, nearly $34k US. Even accounting for regional equipment differences, that's a lot more than the BRZ's $26,265 as-delivered base MSRP here in America.

Subaru plans to electrify entire range by the middle of the 2030s

Nipping infinite rumors in the bud, Subaru confirmed the Outback, the Forester, the BRZ, the WRX STI, and every other car it makes will go utilize some form of electrified powertain or disappear by the middle of the 2030s. The Japanese automaker announced it plans to kick exclusively gasoline-powered cars out of its global portfolio in about 15 years' time. The announcement comes in the wake of ever-stricter emissions regulations around the globe, notably in China and in the European Union. The firm isn't going to turn the tap off overnight, though. Toyota owns an 8.7% stake in Subaru, and the two partners are jointly developing a pair of electric cars due out during the 2020s. Others will inevitably follow. By 2030, hybrid and electric models will represent at least 40% of Subaru's annual global output. In the meantime, Subaru is funneling an immense amount of money into adapting Toyota's hybrid technology to its vehicles. The gasoline-electric variant of the Crosstrek introduced in 2018 a product of this collaboration. Executives outlined plans to release a "strong hybrid" again built with Toyota parts, though they stopped short of providing more details. They also stressed their goal isn't to achieve mere badge-engineering. "Although we're using Toyota technology, we want to make hybrids that are distinctly Subaru. It's not only about reducing CO2 emissions. We need to further improve vehicle safety and the performance of our all-wheel drive," affirmed Tetsuo Onuki, Subaru's chief technology officer, during a briefing Reuters attended. His comments suggest all-wheel drive will continue to define the members of Subaru's range in the electric-only era. The configuration has been one of the brand's strongest selling points for decades, and it helped it grow from a niche brand peddling obscure cars to a major mainstream automaker in the United States, so giving it up would be marketing suicide. The horizontally-opposed engine is Subaru's second signature, it's what the C-shaped daytime running lights seen on its cars are inspired by, but Onuki confirmed it will no longer be the only way Subarus are motivated.

Subaru shows racing versions of STI and BRZ

While we gear up for next week's Detroit Auto Show, the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon is currently on going, and Subaru has marked the occasion by trotting out a pair of new racers. First up, we have the car shown above, with the company's entry to the 2015 Nurburgring 24 Hour Race. Subaru is entering a WRX STI in the grueling endurance race, which runs from May 14 to May 17. The left-hand-drive racer has received a fair crop of upgrades for endurance duty, although Subaru didn't really bother to elaborate on them, unfortunately. Next to the N24 car, Subaru introduced a striking version of its rear-drive BRZ, destined for the Japanese Super GT series. The team campaigning the BRZ will be led by Subaru's Hideharu Tatsumi, who will also be one of the drivers for the Nurburgring effort. Again, Subaru hasn't offered any info on technical changes for the BRZ GT300. Scroll down for the brief press release, and then check out the galleries of both cars. 2015 SUBARU Motorsport Activities Tokyo, January 9, 2015 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) - the maker of Subaru automobiles and Subaru Tecnica International Inc. (STI)* unveiled the new racing car developed from the WRX STI for 24 Hours Nurburgring endurance race in 2015 and announced an outline of Subaru Motorsport activities for 2015 at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2015 with NAPAC (Japan Car Parts and Aftermarket Promotion Association). *: Subaru Tecnica International Inc. (STI; President Yoshio Hirakawa; located in Mitaka, Tokyo) Nurburgring 24-Hour Race STI will participate in the Nurburgring 24-Hour Race (from 14 to 17 May in Germany) for eight consecutive years, with a vehicle whose performance has been enhanced from its base car – the Subaru WRX STI. The race car's performance such as aerodynamics, stability, body rigidity and engine output have been enhanced compared to the previous model. In addition, visibility for racing flags has also been improved by introducing a left-hand drive car. Like last year, Hideharu Tatsumi will take the helm of team operations as team manager, in addition to the development of the car. The drivers are Sasaki (Japan), Lasee (Germany), van Dam (Netherlands) and Tim Schrick (Germany), the winner of 2014 VLN endurance racing championship who newly joins the team. SUPER GT Series Subaru, with the "SUBARU BRZ GT300" race car, will participate in the SUPER GT series this year as well, widely regarded as Japan's top motorsports category.